Ted Warren's ruminations on teaching, playing, writing, and listening. And also pizza.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Dynamics in action!

I'm always amazed how much dynamics give life to music of any style. In the following example a relatively simple tune (this isn't a bad thing, in fact it's one of things that makes it great) is given extra form and excitement through sheer dynamics. The "verse" basically starts when the singer holds up his hands and the band responds by coming way down. The "chorus" happens right after the vocalist's scream and the band plays very loud. We can hear this structure even though the band is basically playing the same parts over the same chord throughout. Notice the intensity of the time and the groove doesn't change at all through these dynamic shifts.

Okay, enough said. Here's one of the greatest artists the United States has ever produced, Mr. James Brown.

Now let's all get together, in any kind of weather, and do....the camel walk!